1-Color
February 20, 2014
Free Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 1, Issue 28 A publication of
castlepinesnewspress.net
Answers sought in teen suicides State’s second-leading cause of death among young people claims 4 locally in 2 weeks By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Four Douglas County teens were lost to suicide in less than two weeks — a number equal to the total of teen suicides in the county in 2013. The deaths recorded between Jan. 31 and Feb. 11 appear unrelated
and do not point to copycat syndrome. “We have not found there’s any communication, any tie between them,” Douglas County Coroner Lora Thomas said. “But like many of the suicide cases we have sadly investigated, mental illness can play a role in suicides.” Thomas would not discuss specifics about any of the cases, including the manner of death and what led to the fatal decisions. The children range in age from 15 to 17, and include 15-year-old Mountain Vista High School sophomore Robert Klamo. He
fatally shot his mother and then himself in their Highlands Ranch home Jan. 31; he reportedly was undergoing treatment for mental illness. Two of the four attended Douglas County High School. The teen deaths have prompted communitywide concern. The Douglas County School District sent an email to parents that included suicidal behavior warning signs, resources and tips for talking to students. Two Castle Rock churches held prayer vigils. The cases haunt Thomas, who has studied suicide extensively to try to slow or
prevent the incidents, and who visited this week with one of the teen’s parents. “These parents loved this kiddo desperately and they did everything they could,” she said. “It’s almost like he was this fragile little Christmas ornament. They carried him along for so long to protect him, but something happened and he slipped out of their hands. “When I look in the eyes of these parents that are devastated…” Thomas trailed off and paused before continuing. “Gosh, what can we do to help these kids?” Suicides continues on Page 9
Substation clears first city hurdle
Top 10 clash
Castle Pines votes yes on initial reading; final vote expected to be taken on Feb. 25 By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@coloradocommunitymedia. com
have found the right person for the job. We chose Bob because of his experience with strategic planning, his broad knowledge of information technology, and his overall business acumen,” said Bob Morris, Douglas County Libraries board president. In Iowa, Pasicznyuk was project manager for two simultaneous building projects: a $46.6 million flagship library and a $2.5 million branch library. In addition, he reversed a decade of eroding library support and steady decline, according to a news release. “Over the years, Bob has been acknowledged numerous times by both his peers
Castle Pines City Council unanimously gave its preliminary OK to an IREA substation — a facility that would have structures up to 75 feet high and would be close to some rural homes in Happy Canyon Ranch Estates — without having a packet of information about the project. Prior to the vote, Linda Michow, Castle Pines’ city attorney explained to the council that voting in favor of it on first reading “simply allows the process to move forward.” She said the item has already been written about in the newspaper and legally posted on the property, advertising a public hearing. “Your approval … is not approving the application or the substance or the merits. It’s simply allowing it to move forward for second reading,” she said, adding that the second reading will be on Feb. 25. Castle Pines Councilmember James Einolf asked staff if the council was going to “get a package of stuff about this (project)” prior to that date. Don Van Wormer, Castle Pines city manager, said that staff would be getting information “to you quickly within the next couple days.” Einolf also asked if anything had changed with the project since the city’s planning commission — which makes recommendations to the city council — voted to recommend approval, and Van Wormer said no, that there hadn’t been any changes. Einolf said in that case it “would have been awfully easy for you to include that (planning commission packet) with this and I’m disappointed that you didn’t.” The proposed IREA substation would be located on about one acre, about a quarter mile east of Interstate 25’s Happy Canyon exit — and be within about 800 to 1,000 feet of the nearest home in the Happy Canyon
Library continues on Page 9
Substation continues on Page 9
Rock Canyon’s Morgan Roos, left in white, gets a hand in front of Castle View’s Mikayla Gonzales, shooting, as the two Top 10 teams battled it out Feb. 13 at RCHS. No. 10 Rock Canyon got the best of the No. 7 Sabercats, 66-60. For more on this game as well as the meeting between the boys teams, turn to page 21. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Former tech innovator to lead libraries Robert Pasicznyuk, a familiar face in Douglas County, replacing Jamie LaRue By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@coloradocommunitymedia. com Robert “Bob” Pasicznyuk, who had a reputation for changing the face of a library with technology tools, was hired in 2004 when Jamie LaRue, now retired, was Douglas County Libraries’ executive director. Then in 2009, Pasicznyuk — pronounced
Paz-nick — left his senior technology role when Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s library system, devastated by floods, needed a leader that could bring it back. He reportedly brought it back. Now, he’s back. The Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees has selected him to replace the recently retired LaRue as the next director of the Pasicznyuk libraries and he’ll assume his new role on May 5. “With today’s announcement, we feel we
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