🌱 Lakewood Life Sentence + Police Standoff + 5280 Freedom School

Hey, hello! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh edition of the Lakewood Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Today's briefing includes updates on:

• Lakewood crimes.
• Black excellence charter school.
• Magic mushrooms.

But first, today's weather: A t-storm around in the p.m. High: 71. Low: 49.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top stories in Lakewood today:

1. Marqueil Banks, 18-year-old Lakewood resident, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of two teenage boys. The victims, 18-year-old Damian Wikoff and 17-year-old Dillon Wikoff, were brothers. The incident occurred two years ago, and Banks was tried and sentenced as an adult. Learn more at The Denver Post.
2. Following a Saturday afternoon stand-off, the Lakewood police arrested 34-year-old Oleksandra Sayre outside of DaBong Headshop. Sayre has been booked with charges relating to assault and property damage. Neither suspects or officers are believed to be injured. Read more at Newsbreak.
3. 5280 Freedom School, a proposed charter school championing Black excellence, has not seen enough enrollment to open this fall, as it had hoped too. Executive Director Branta Lockett said, "It's frustrating to know that our students will have to wait, to continue to wait for something like this." Read more at 9 News.
4. Following a 2022 vote legalizing psilocybin, Colorado residents 21 or older are allowed to grow, share, and take "magic mushrooms." The signed bill also outlines medical use of mushrooms, with clinical trials occurring this fall. Find out more via Axios.

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Today in Lakewood:

• Outdoor Family Time — Belmar Library (10:00 AM)
• Toddler Time — Lakewood Library (10:15 AM)
• Summer Challenge Kickoff Party — Lakewood Library (11:15 AM)
• Library for All: Interactive Program for Teens and Adults with Disabilities — Columbine Library (1:00 PM)
• Free Legal Self-Help Clinic — Belmar Library (2:00 PM)
• Hard Times Writing Workshop — Belmar Library (3:00 PM)
• Teen Advisory Board (TAB) — Lakewood Library (4:00 PM)
• Thursday Night Book Group - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus — Lakewood Library (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Colorful Colorado: "Colorado's mountains are a symphony of colors and textures!🤩 💡" (Colorado, Denver 🌲 Travel | Hotels | Outdoors | Tips via Instagram)
• Breathtaking Views: "Nature's beauty is on full display in Colorado with these breathtaking blossoms by mginosyanphoto !🤩 💡Colorado's diverse landscape provides the perfect environment for a variety of blossoming flowers." (Colorado, Denver 🌲 Travel | Hotels | Outdoors | Tips via Instagram)
• Lakewood Cultural Center: "40 West Arts District is holding four pop-ups in early June at several events along the 40 West ArtLine to ask for community input on draft recommendations and concepts for the 40 West ArtLine Framework Plan." (Lakewood Cultural Center via Facebook)
• Denim Dreams: "All your denim dreams are coming true... Lee | Wrangler is coming soon! 👖 #colomills #comingsoon" (Colorado Mills via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Lakewood Fitness and Massage — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (June 3)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (June 5)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (June 6)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Arvada Library - Jefferson County Public Library (June 6)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (June 8)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Lakewood Patch newsletter? Contact me at lakewood-co@patch.com