Turning Back the Pages

30 years ago – August 1, 1986

A women’s prison will be opened in Gilpin County next year in spite of the opposition expressed by many locals. For several months, many Gilpinites have speculated about the possibility of a prison being located here. The realization that it is true apparently took some time even after it was publicly announced by Youth Services Director Orlando Martinez in July. Many people, including the county commissioners, thought that the women’s prison was a rumor. Even after Tom Powell, administrative assistant to the executive department of the Colorado Department of Corrections, verified it to be fact last month. The prison became a reality to residents on Monday at a public meeting scheduled by four state officials and the county commissioners. Over 30 people attended the meeting. It was made clear despite opposition, that the prison will be opening here. In February, Powell had said that the state would not go into a community and tell the residents what it is going to do without the community’s input. Although the decision had been made, the state viewed the meeting on Monday as a public meeting, even though community input would not change the decision. County Commissioners Don Diltz, Alan Baird, and Leslie Williams explained that they did not like the way the information about the prison was received. When the announcement was confirmed in July, not one of the commissioners was informed. It came as a surprise and was resented. The state officials were more than apologetic and blamed the lack of communication on the state youth services division. The facility will open in February 1987. It will replace the Golden Gate Youth Camp, a juvenile detention center that is closing in January. The property where the prison will be located is owned by the state. It is located in mid-Gilpin County off Highway 46 in Golden Gate Canyon. It consists of approximately 20 acres of land.

Sam and Brenda Ireland of Dory Lakes are proud to announce the birth of a son. Michael Joseph was born at 12:12 a.m. on July 20, 1986, at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge. He weighed five pounds nine ounces and measured 19 inches. The baby has two sisters, Nancy and Maria. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tompkins of Fairfield, Maine, and paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ireland of Benton, Maine.