Saturday
6 section B
february 11, 2012 B denverpost.com B the denver post
DENVER & THE WEST JACKPOT SWELLS
Powerball pot reaches $325 million mark. »2B
Business » 5-7B
Wall Street DOW JONES
DEBT-DEAL UNREST HITS THE STREETS Protests in Greece; Dow loses 89 points » 6B
89.23 | 0.7% 12,801.23 NASDAQ
23.35 | 0.8% 2,903.88 S&P 500
9.31 | 0.7% 1,342.64 Coverage » 6B
Meeker matter gets messier Three engineers who questioned the school’s structural integrity are being probed for failing to report it to a state board.
Colorado initiative clicks off
By Eric Gorski The Denver Post
Engineers who questioned the structural integrity of Meeker’s Elementary School now find themselves under investigation for failing to notify a state licensing board of their concerns, as required by law. The board filed complaints against an engineer hired by the rural school district and two others who conducted a third-party review that uncovered serious structural defects that led to the school’s closure. All three engineers defended themselves in written responses this week, saying they were not given enough information to determine whether the work was substandard. Under state law, licensed engineers are required to report peers who have failed to meet generally accepted standards of practice. The board filed complaints against Luke Studer of Steamboat Springs, who initially raised concerns about the school, and Frank Bumgarner and Wayne Muir of Structural Consultants Inc., who conducted an outside review of the design. Angie Kinnaird Linn, program director for the state Department of Regulatory Agencies, said because “this is such an
Hickenlooper’s TBD program begins with more than 100 civic leaders discussing state issues. By Tim Hoover The Denver Post
They came. They clicked. They picked. More than 100 civic leaders gathered Friday for a test drive of TBD Colorado, Gov. John Hickenlooper’s large-scale civic engagement effort to take Coloradans’ temperature on education, health care, transportation, the state workforce and the state budget. Those at Friday’s session at the History Colorado Center were designated as “advisers” to TBD Colorado, helping to guide the initiative, which promises to release a list of recommended fixes that now remain “to be determined.” “We really want people to have a real voice,” Hickenlooper, a Democrat, said, not just measuring the public’s sentiment “but to give it strength and muscle.” A privately funded nonprofit, TBD Colorado will hold 120 meetings in 40 locations around the state where participants can register their thoughts on issues by means of remote control-style clickers. The meetings will allow members of the public to participate, but those participating have to commit to three monthly meetings lasting three hours each and read background materials. The first meeting is set for March 5 in Douglas County. The initiative will produce a report at the end of the year showing the results from the meetings. Coloradans interested in participating can visit TBDColorado.org for more information. Greg Maffei, chief executive of Liberty Media and chairman of the TBD Colorado Inc. board, said no state has attempted an outreach effort as ambitious. In addition to Maffei and Starz/Liberty Media, donors to the effort, which is exINITIATIVE » 3B
REVIEW » 3B
Online: Previous Post coverage of the Neenan schools story and related documentation.»denverpost.com/neenan
EARLIER CALL IGNORED
Fire-response delay triggers new look at dispatch policy The Arapahoe High School Unified Cheer Squad performs a routine during halftime at a basketball game Thursday night. Two of the girls also played in the game. In its first year, the squad has gained rock-star status on campus. Karl Gehring, The Denver Post
By Kieran Nicholson The Denver Post
Firefighters put out a blaze in the basement of a northeast Denver home Friday morning, about 90 minutes after a neighbor called 911 to report a strong smell of smoke. Neighbor Torry Hughes said he stepped outside to take his dog for a walk about 5:30 a.m. when the smell of smoke “hit me in the face, like a brick.” Hughes said he immediately grabbed a flashlight and checked his property to make sure his house wasn’t on fire. He didn’t find fire, but the smell of smoke lingered. Hughes called 911, but he said the dispatcher was dismissive. Hughes said the dispatcher told him “no one else had called” and the smoke he was smelling must be a “controlled burn,” likely a fireplace. “If you see or hear anything, don’t hesitate to call back,” Hughes said the dispatcher told him. “Who am I to argue with the Fire Department?” Hughes was inside his home about 7 a.m. when fire engines responded to a structure fire at 2634 Ivanhoe St., just down the block.
Uplifting moves, champion spirit By Anthony Cotton The Denver Post
KLONDIKE, SNOW GO SEPARATE WAYS Polar bear Snow frolics in her habitat in SeaWorld Orlando before she was moved to a zoo in Arizona because of her chronic struggles with allergies. »2B Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando
centennial» If one is interested, there’s no shortage of important, scholarly work devoted to analyzing the benefits of inclusion theory in schools — reams of highbrow research arguing that children with special needs can thrive through interaction with general-education kids. Or, one can merely spend some time at the home of Caley Elliot.
Any day, any hour would likely suffice, because chances are the Arapahoe High School junior will either be engaged in her passion — cheerleading — or dreaming about going to school and getting the chance to cheer there. “If it starts to snow, she asks if it’s going to be a snow day,” said her brother Spencer, a sophomore. “And she’ll scream out, ‘No! I want to go to school!’ just so she can cheer.” CHEERLEADERS » 4B
Video: See the team’s performance in the Flip and Shout competition at the Denver Coliseum.»denverpost.com/multimedia
DELAY » 4B
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