Turning Back the Pages

30 years ago – February 28, 1986

A visit to the Golden Gate Youth Camp on February 21 by state officials that was not announced to local officials or citizens has alarmed many mid-county residents and irritated at least one of the Gilpin County Commissioners. Before the weekend was over, a number of residents of mid-Gilpin County, where the camp is located, were aware of the visit. Residents had heard that an adult prison was definitely going to be located at the site, replacing the juvenile detention center. A number of people were upset that they had not been told about the plans. Several people from mid-county were alarmed that adult offenders would be living near their homes. They were particularly concerned because of the number of juveniles that have escaped from the camp in the past. County Commissioner Leslie Williams said Monday that she had received a call from a resident of Gilpin County about the state’s intentions. She was not aware of the state’s plans or aware that officials from the state had been in the county to look at the site. She was irritated and alarmed that “they never bother to tell us.” Commissioners Don Diltz and Alan Baird were also not aware of the state’s intentions. Sheriff Rosetta Anderle was equally surprised about the state’s plans. She said, “Felonies are serious,” a concern since the jail would house felons. Anderle had been told that the youth camp facility would possibly be used as a “workout” place for law enforcement officers. She objected to the possibility of an adult facility and said that county residents would not be in favor of it. Tom Powell, administrative assistant to the executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, said Monday that officials from the state, including himself, were at the youth camp on February 21. He said it was a “site expedition” and that “it was just looked at” as a possible site to house adult offenders. According to Powell, several sites in Colorado are being looked at to house “non-violent” class four and class five felony offenders. He did not state what crimes are included in those classes. There have been offers to place the adult facility in other locations, Powell said. Plans to implement the “boot camp concept” in 1987 and the closing of the youth camp at the same time are coincidence, he said. Powell reiterated that the meeting on February 21 was an informal meeting for the weighing of pros and cons, but no definite decisions were made.

The sixth Gilpin County RE-1 School Science Fair on February 19 was dedicated to the crew of the Challenger space shuttle. There were 135 displays packed into the gym. The number of local residents that visited the fair could be judged by the parking lot outside that was filled beyond capacity. One of the winners at the fair was third grader Jed Shields. His project was entitled “Mold—Our Tiny Neighbors.” Shields had various samples of mold in the stages of life from day one up to 21 days. The Isaac Newton Award, donated by Bob and Thonda Rivers, was awarded to Jonlee Anderle and Shane Shields as being the best scientists over the entire year.